New Delhi: India on Saturday said it had asked
Pakistan to convene a meeting of the judicial committee of the
two countries to discuss on humanitarian issues pertaining to
prisoners and fishermen but was still awaiting a response.
"India had requested Pakistan in January this year, and
again during the talks between Foreign Secretaries last month,
to convey dates for the next meeting of India-Pakistan
Judicial Committee, which is to be held in Pakistan," said a
statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
It said that India had made the proposal so that these
humanitarian issues were addressed expeditiously.
"Pakistan's response is still awaited," the statement
said.
The Committee is tasked with investigating the situation
of civilians imprisoned in the jails of the other nation and
to obtain and facilitate their release, especially that of
fishermen imprisoned for straying across territorial waters.
After a meeting of the Committee in India, Pakistan had
released 100 Indian fishermen in December last year.
"There are more than 550 Indian fishermen and 400 Indian
fishing boats in Pakistan's custody, besides 220 Indian
prisoners," the statement said.
The remarks came in the wake of reports on unresolved
humanitarian issues between the two countries in a section of
Pakistan media.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, March 06, 2010, 20:17